Rhea didn't waste time. The moment Zane committed to staying, she was back at her terminal, typing furiously and muttering under her breath. Kade leaned against a wall, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a mix of amusement and concern.
"Alright," Rhea said finally, turning to Zane. "Before I waste my time training you, we need to know what we're working with."
Zane blinked. "What do you mean? I already told you—I barely know how to use the Core."
Rhea rolled her eyes. "And I barely care. If you can't handle its power, training you is pointless. We need to measure your energy threshold—how much the Core's power you can channel before it fries you like a bad circuit."
"Measure my threshold?" Zane repeated, his voice rising slightly. "What does that even mean? Are we talking about a test?"
"Think of it as a glorified stress test," Rhea said, pulling a thick cable from one of the monitors and holding it up like a serpent preparing to strike. "But instead of testing the Core, we're testing you."
Kade let out a low whistle. "Oh, this is going to be fun. For me, anyway."
Rhea led Zane to the back of the train car, where a makeshift testing station was set up. It looked like something pulled straight out of a mad scientist's lab—an array of wires, nodes, and glowing conduits, all connected to a large circular pad embedded in the floor.
"You're going to stand there," Rhea said, pointing to the pad. "The Core stays in your hands the entire time. I'll run a sequence to gradually increase its output, and we'll see how much you can handle before you hit your limit."
"Limit?" Zane asked, his voice shaky. "And what happens if I reach it?"
"You won't," Rhea said matter-of-factly. "Because if you do, you'll pass out, or worse. So let's not aim for that."
"Comforting," Zane muttered, stepping onto the pad. The surface was cool beneath his boots, and the faint hum of the machinery around him set his nerves on edge.
Kade grinned from the sidelines. "Don't worry, kid. The first few volts always feel like a tickle."
"Not helping," Zane snapped.
Rhea handed him the Cipher Core, which pulsed faintly in his hands. "Hold onto this and focus. The Core responds to intent, whether you're aware of it or not. If you panic, it'll amplify that. Stay calm."
"Easy for you to say," Zane muttered, gripping the Core tightly.
Rhea moved to her console and began typing. "Alright, starting sequence now. Brace yourself."
The hum of the machinery deepened, and the Cipher Core's glow intensified. Zane felt the energy immediately—a faint, tingling warmth in his hands that quickly spread to his arms and chest. It wasn't painful, but it was… overwhelming, like standing too close to a fire.
"Level one," Rhea announced. "This is the Core at minimal output. How are you feeling?"
"Like I just touched an electric fence," Zane said through gritted teeth.
"Good. Means it's working," Rhea said, typing again. "Increasing to level two."
The warmth intensified, shifting into a sharp, buzzing sensation that made Zane's fingers twitch. He gritted his teeth, focusing on the Core's glow as if staring at it would somehow keep the energy under control.
"That's it," Rhea said, her voice calm but firm. "Don't fight it. Let the energy flow."
Zane let out a shaky breath, his knees wobbling. "Easier said than done."
By level four, the buzzing had become a roar in his veins. His body trembled, and sweat dripped down his forehead. Kade watched from the corner, his grin fading as he leaned forward slightly.
"You're doing fine, kid," Kade said, his voice softer now. "Just keep breathing."
"Level five," Rhea called out. "This is where most people start to crack. Let's see if you're different."
The energy surged, slamming into Zane like a tidal wave. His vision blurred, and his legs buckled, but he managed to stay upright. The Core felt alive in his hands now, its pulse matching the frantic beat of his heart.
"I can't—" Zane gasped. "I can't do this!"
"Yes, you can," Rhea said sharply. "This is the threshold. Push past it. Show the Core who's in control."
Zane clenched his jaw, the weight of her words cutting through the fog in his mind. He focused on the Core, imagining the energy as a river he had to channel instead of fight. Slowly, the roaring in his veins began to subside, replaced by a steady, rhythmic pulse.
"Level six," Rhea said, her voice tinged with surprise. "You're holding. Barely."
"Barely's better than not at all," Kade said, though there was a flicker of worry in his tone.
The final surge came without warning. The Core flared brilliantly, filling the room with a blinding light. Zane cried out, the force of the energy nearly knocking him off the pad. His knees hit the ground, but his grip on the Core never faltered.
"Cut it!" Kade shouted, rushing forward. "He's done!"
Rhea hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, but she finally deactivated the sequence. The glow of the Core dimmed, and the room fell silent.
Zane collapsed onto the pad, gasping for air. His arms felt like lead, and his vision swam, but he was alive. Barely.
"Congratulations," Rhea said, walking over to him. "You didn't die."
"Thanks," Zane rasped. "Really inspiring feedback."
Kade crouched beside him, a faint smirk on his face. "You did good, kid. Better than most."
Zane looked up at Rhea, his expression a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "And? What's the verdict?"
Rhea studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You've got potential. But potential means nothing if you can't learn to control it."
"Great," Zane muttered, struggling to his feet. "Can't wait for the next test."
Rhea's lips twitched into something resembling a smile. "Oh, this wasn't the test. This was just to see if you're worth training."
Zane groaned, leaning heavily on Kade for support. "I hate this already."
"Good," Rhea said, turning back to her console. "Hate means you're taking it seriously."
As Zane limped back to the corner of the train car, the Cipher Core tucked under his arm, one thought echoed in his mind: What have I gotten myself into?
The Core pulsed faintly in response, as if mocking him. And somewhere, not far enough away, the Echo waited. Watching. Preparing.